Gordon Boswell

Gordon Boswell

Posted by gordonboswell on February 8, 2017 Uncategorized

Celebrating Mardi Gras in Fort Worth

mardi grasLouisiana is the only state that recognizes Mardi Gras as an official holiday, but that doesn’t mean that other parts of the United States do not celebrate this festive occasion. In fact, in the Fort Worth area there are events ranging from music festivals to fun runs, so be sure to look for them! If you plan on having a Mardi Gras party, you can count on the floral designers at Gordon Boswell Flowers to create the gold, green, and purple floral arrangements that will add all the celebration to your home or office. But why are those colors the official colors of Mardi Gras? Here are some fun facts about the holiday you may not have known.
mardi gras

* When Christianity was introduced in Rome, it collided with pagan festivals of spring and fertility. The emperor, wanting everyone to convert to the faith, merged the two traditions. Lent, a 40 day period of fasting and repentance, began on Ash Wednesday. The culmination of the festival occurred on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday – and included revelers eating all of the meat and dairy in the house before the fast began. It became known as “Fat Tuesday”. When the holiday spread to France, “Fat Tuesday” was translated to “Mardi Gras.”

* In 1699, the French explorer Bienville landed on the shores of what would one day be Louisiana. His crew, realizing that it was Fat Tuesday, staged a small celebration and named the land “Pointe du Mardi Gras”. Bienville established several French settlements, one of which would be New Orleans, where annual Mardi Gras celebrations, including masquerade balls,  were commonplace. Although when Spain took over the territory for a short time the festivities were halted, they resumed when Louisiana became a U.S. State.

* In the early 1800’s, a group of students was inspired to take the celebration to new levels after a trip to France. They dressed in colorful costumes and took to the streets in processions. 20 years later, a secret society of businessmen introduced themselves as a “krewe” and created a mystical parade featuring floats, marching bands, and fire for illumination. Additional secret society krewes joined the fun, and one of the most popular introduced the popular green, gold, and purple color schemes. To this day, krewes of people don masks and costumes, ride on floats, and throw out beads and trinkets to the crowds.

* In New Orleans, Mardi Gras is a month long event, culminating on Fat Tuesday.

So are you inspired to have a Fort Worth Mardi Gras party? Give Gordon Boswell Flowers a call, and we’ll provide beautiful floral decorations that are worthy of such a festive event with a colorful history.